In a heart-wrenching overtime showdown at the ACC Tournament, Virginia Tech fell to Wake Forest, 95-89, leaving the Hokies grappling with the harsh reality of another missed NCAA Tournament bid. The Spectrum Center locker room was a scene of silent reflection as the 12th-seeded Hokies (19-13, 8-10 ACC) faced the end of their season, marking their fourth consecutive year without a tournament appearance.
Head coach Mike Young didn't shy away from the disappointment. "We had our opportunities and we came up just short," he admitted, taking responsibility for the loss.
Wake Forest, the 13th seed, capitalized on their chances, maintaining a slight edge throughout the game and pulling away in overtime. Guard Myles Colvin was instrumental, hitting key shots that secured the Demon Deacons' lead. They executed with precision, going 5-for-7 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the line in the extra period.
Hokies guard Jaden Schutt reflected on the grueling match, noting, "It’s 45 minutes. We play tough and we’re conditioned - it’s Game 32. But it’s just a game of runs."
Virginia Tech's season mantra of "so close" was epitomized in the final moments of regulation. Ben Hammond's missed floater and Jailen Bedford's near tip-in encapsulated their struggles.
"We thought we could get post players onto Ben," Young explained. "Jailen makes a heck of a play, and just doesn't get it down."
Despite a rocky start with a 3-for-13 three-point rate and 10 turnovers, the Hokies found their rhythm in the second half, outscoring Wake Forest 41-37. They even took the lead at one point, but a 13-4 Wake Forest run shifted momentum again.
Christian Gurdak, the Hokies' center, summed up the game’s ebb and flow: "Every time I thought we had control, things just didn’t go our way."
In the closing seconds of regulation, Virginia Tech had their chances but couldn’t convert. Mekhi Mason missed a critical three-pointer, and despite grabbing the rebound, the Hokies couldn’t capitalize on their final attempts.
Coach Young made strategic decisions late in the game, opting to keep Neoklis Avdalas on the bench in favor of Schutt and Bedford, who combined for 32 points. Meanwhile, Antonio Dorn was sidelined despite his strong performance, stepping in for injured star center Amani Hansberry.
Hammond and Bedford led the Hokies with 23 and 17 points, respectively, while Schutt added 15. Wake Forest spread the scoring across their lineup, with Colvin leading at 18 points and Sebastian Akins contributing 14.
The Hokies' defense struggled as the game progressed, allowing Wake Forest to shoot 71% in overtime. Now, Virginia Tech faces a decision about participating in the NIT. The emotional toll of the loss was evident, as players like Schutt expressed their disappointment: "I had high hopes for our team... but you’ve got to go out there and get it done."
As the Hokies contemplate their next steps, the pain of what could have been lingers, a testament to the fierce competition and unpredictability of college basketball.